Swimmers reassured over red tide

VISITORS to one of Yorkshire’s most popular beaches are being urged not to be alarmed as the water is dyed red as part of tests to minimise pollution from outflowing sewage.

Yorkshire Water is releasing environmentally-friendly red dye around Runswick Bay, near Whitby, to gain a better understanding of how its sewer outfalls can impact on the quality of local bathing waters as part of a £110m project to improve the Yorkshire coastline.

Bathing water strategy manager, Lee Pitcher, said: “The dye itself is completely inert and is not harmful in any way to plants and wildlife.

“Over the course of the next few days, we’ll be releasing a small amount from our outfalls and then tracking where it goes.

“This testing is hugely beneficial as it should give us a clearer picture of how our outfalls operate and the impact they have, helping to inform our planning.”